A 0-2 victory over Rio Ave FC keeps them top of the group

Sporting Clube de Portugal beat Rio Ave FC 0-2 on the second matchday of the Taça da Liga group stage, maintaining their 100% record in the competition. A goal by Gonçalo Inácio and an own goal by the home team's Boateng -both in the second half- moved the team one step closer to advancing in the competition.

Coach Rúben Amorim made only one change in the starting lineup from the clash against SC Farense, bringing in Antonio Adán in place of Franco Israel.

The first half started at a relatively slow pace, but Sporting CP had a good opportunity after just three minutes, when Nuno Santos shot wide following a clever move by Pedro Porro. Moments later, José Marsà also tried his luck, but missed the target.

Rio Ave FC responded in the 15th minute, with Leonardo Ruiz shooting over. At the other end, Pedro Gonçalves found a good position in the area, but was unable to finish off the chance.

After a Paulinho header saved by Jhonatan, Rio Ave FC could have scored when Leonardo Ruiz went through on Adán, but the Spanish goalkeeper prevented a goal with his block.

In the 41st minute, Nuno Santos had a shot saved by the goalkeeper, and the game went into the halftime break with the score at 0-0.

Sporting CP's dominance was accentuated in the second half and both Nuno Santos, Marcus Edwards and Francisco Trincão tried to make it 0-1 in the opening minutes.

Porro then crossed, Paulinho's shot forced a save from Jhonatan defense and, on the rebound, Francisco Trincão was unfortunate not to hit the target. Rio Ave FC had one of their few dangerous attacks of the second half, with Leonardo Ruiz shooting narrowly wide.

Finally, the deadlock was broken in the 62nd minute. Off a direct free kick, Edwards sent the ball into the area and Gonçalo Inácio, with an excellent header, scored for Sporting CP..

With the score at 0-1, Jhonatan once again denied Paulinho and Trincão, before Amorim brought in Arthur Gomes and Manuel Ugarte in place of Marcus Edwards and Dário Essugo.

The second goal was not long in coming as, in the 73rd minute, Porro sent in a free kick from the left and Boateng deflected it into his own net.

Doubling the lead brought tranquility to the team and to the match itself, which ended 0-2. Sporting CP are the outright leaders of Group B with six points, three more than Rio Ave FC and SC Farense. CS Marítimo, last placed in the group, are the next opponents on Tuesday, December 13th.

Sporting CP: Antonio Adán [C] [GK], Gonçalo Inácio, José Marsà, Matheus Reis, Pedro Porro, Dário Essugo (Manuel Ugarte, 71'), Pedro Gonçalves (Sotiris Alexandropoulos, 84'), Nuno Santos, Marcus Edwards (Arthur Gomes, 71'), Francisco Trincão (Rochinha, 84') and Paulinho (Jovane Cabral, 84').